Electric sign flasher



Oct.; 15, 1929; H. N. WAGNER I ELECTRIC SIGN FLASHER Filed June 2, 1926INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY N.WAGNER, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC SIGN FLASHER Applicationfile-d June 2, 1926. Serial No. 113,185.

My invention relates to electric sign flashers, and more particularly toa device for use in connection with. electric circuits forintermittently interrupting the flow of current through said circuits,whereby to give the flashing action in connection with the llghts.

Among the salient objects of my invention are: to provide a device witha series of contact elements, spaced apart with insulating elementstherebetween, all of said elements forming a drum revolubly mounted,whereby a contact brush will engage first a contact element and neXt aninsulating element; to provide in a device of the character referred toa drum with holding bands, with segmental elements, some of conductingmaterial and others of non-conducting material, adapted to be placedaround said drum to form a flush surface, whereby a contact brush willmove over said elements from one to the other as if it were a continuoussurface; to provide a device of the character referred to withspring-pressed contact brushes or elements projecting in substantiallyradial positions toward and in contact with the surface of said drum;and, in general, to provide a revolving drum with interchangeablesurface elements of different materials and with holding bands adaptedto detachably hold them in place.

In order to fully explain my invention, I have shown one practicalembodiment of the same on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts in section, showing a flasherembodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing a part of a drum, with surfaceelements and band for holding the same; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a brush, in section to show the meansfor yieldingly holding the same.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, my invention as hereillustrated for descriptive purposes, includes a base, 5, with twospaced bearing brackets, 6 and 7, mounted thereon, with a main shaft, 8,having bearings, as at 9, and on which said shaft, 8, is mounted a drum,10, having end members,

as 11, mounted on said shaft with insulating sleeves, as 12. The drum ismade of rolled sheet material secured to the end members 11, as by meansof small screws, 13.

Two bands, as 1 1 and 15, are secured in place around said drum, saidbands being of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of theelements to be used therewith and hereinafter referred to. A series ofholding hands, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 are placed around said drum,said bands being narrow, but sufficiently wide to overlap the twomeeting edges of surface elements, 22, 22, and 23, 23, the elements 22,22, being of conducting material, while the elements, 23, 23, are ofnon-conducting or insulating material, said elements be ing of the samethickness and adapted to be laid upon the drum, 10, edge to edge andinterspaced as may be desired, with the holding hands overlapping themeeting edges thereof, as clearly indicated. This makes it possible toplace any length of element desired, whether of insulating material orof conducting material, depending upon the desired length of time for aclosed circuit, or for an open circuit, as will be clear to those versedin the art. These elements can be distributed as may be desired, thosebetween two bands being independent of those in the next adiacentportion of the drum. When said elements are all clamped in place, thesurface is smooth and the brushes can retain contact as the drum isrevolved.

A feed band, 24;, is shown held around said drum by the bands, 16 and17, whereby the circuit connection at this place is continuous as thedrum revolves.

The brushes each comprise a tubular mem her, as 25, with an end cap, 26,a spring 27 therein, and a carbon stick, 28, held yieldingly by thespring and projecting from the tubular member, 25, and into contact withthe surface elements of the drum, as shown. Said tubular members areeach provided with an opening through its side, near the front end,designated, 29, whereby the carbon can be seen and if getting short itwill 'be disclosed. A holding bracket, 30, is provided for each tubularmember, by means of which it is secured to a supporting bar, 31, with aninsu lat-ing sleeve, 32, to insulate the brushes from the supportingbar, 31.

The brush at the left hand end of the drawings, designated, 25 it willbe seen, is in contact with the feed band, 24, while the other brushesare spaced to contact with the surface elements between the respectiveholding bands, 17 and 18, 18 and 19, 19 and 20, and 20 and 21, as willbe understood from the showing. The circuit wires for the respec' tivebrushes are shown and designated, 33, for the feed circuit, and 34, 35,36 and 37 for the other circuits, leading to the respective lights to beilluminated, or other instrumentalities to be energized.

A drive gear, 38, is mounted on the main shaft, 8, and meshes with apinion, 39, on a stub shaft, 40, in the bearing, 41, and provided with adrive pulley, 42, driven by a 20 belt, 43, from a motor, 44, shownmounted on the base, 5, although it will be understood that any drivingconnections can be provided as conditions justify. I

I am aware that changes in details of construction and arrangement canbe made Without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not,therefore, limit the invention to the showing made for illustrativepurposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electric flasher including a drum with means for revolving it,series of surface elements secured around said drum, means 5 fordetachably and interchangeably holding said elements in place with theirmeeting edges flush with each other, a contact brush for each seriesadapted to contact each element of its series as said drum is revolved,

40 said elements being of conducting and nonconducting materials, andelectric circuits connected to be opened and closed as said brushes wipeover said elements.

2. An electric sign flasher including a drum, means for revolving thesame, a plurality of series of surface elements arranged around saiddrum, holding bands around said drum and overlapping the meeting edgesof said elements, the elements of each series being of differentmaterials, some being conducting material and others being n0nconductingmaterial, a plurality of contact brushes with means yieldingly holdingthem against said elements in substantially radial positions, andcircuit connections for said brushes.

Signed at Los Angleses, Los Angeles County, California, this 28th day ofMay, 1926.

HENRY N. WVAGNER.

